Flights, train trips suspended, sites shuttered as region braces for storm

A bridge is closed due to the upcoming Typhoon Talim in Zhanjiang, South China's Guangdong province, July 17, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Flights were canceled, vessels were called back to ports, high-speed train services were suspended and people in South China were told they should stay home on Monday ahead of Typhoon Talim's landfall.

Strong wind and rain were expected to hit parts of Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan provinces from 2 pm Monday to 2 pm Tuesday, the National Meteorological Center said on Monday.

The center renewed its orange alert, the second-highest alert level, for Talim on Monday, while the China Meteorological Administration raised its emergency response for typhoons to Level III.

The meteorological center said Talim made landfall in coastal areas of the city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong province at around 10:20 pm on Monday night.

At 3:30 pm Sunday, the marine department of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge temporarily closed the sea channels that operate under the bridge to avoid any accidents.

Markets in Hong Kong were prompted to close on Monday as the city's observatory hoisted a storm signal.

The city of Zhanjiang is expected to be hardest hit by the typhoon.

All fishing boats have been required to return to shelters, and major bridges and scenic spots have been temporarily closed.

In addition, the city's water conservancy departments are required to be on duty 24 hours to help deal with any emergencies over the next two days.

Ferry and cruise services along the Pearl River were suspended at noon on Monday in Guangzhou, and China Railway Guangzhou Group decided to suspend passenger train operations among the cities of Jiangmen, Zhanjiang, Maoming and Haikou from Monday to Tuesday.

In Haikou, capital of Hainan province, authorities ordered all nurseries and training institutions to suspend classes. Students from other schools are on summer vacation.

Meilan International Airport in Haikou canceled all outbound flights on Monday, with all three ports of the city shutting down.

Hainan's circular high-speed railway and Haikou suburban trains were suspended, and parks, scenic spots, malls and markets were also closed.

Wu Qiancheng, director of the command center of the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration, said it will use information methods to strengthen ship monitoring, release warnings in a timely manner and prepare for emergencies.

"We have coordinated and deployed five professional rescue boats and two rescue helicopters, which can respond to maritime emergencies at any time," Wu said.

Residents in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, experienced howling winds and periods of intense rainfall as city authorities prepared for work and school closures, but the city's emergency management bureau decided against closures as the center of the storm was moving away from the city.

"We have prepared for work and school closures, but as the center of the storm moves away from Shenzhen, we have made a scientific judgment and decided not to issue such instructions," Wang Changxiao, director of the disaster prevention department of Shenzhen Emergency Management Bureau, told China Daily.

Contact the writers at wangxu@chinadaily.com.cn